• Question: Hi, I want to go into Particle or Nuclear Physics at University (I am doing my A-levels currently); at school we have a week of compulsory work experience at the end of summer Term; however in terms of Physics there are scarce opportunities in my county - I am interested in space too and there is an opportunity in Physics and Astronomy, but the next closest thing to Physics in my county is engineering. I was wondering if any of you could help me out in terms of what fields I should apply into for work experience or give me any leads! Thank you.

    Asked by rohitmkiller to Adam, Sheila, Suzie on 24 Mar 2011 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Suzie Sheehy

      Suzie Sheehy answered on 24 Mar 2011:

      Hi rohit, where are you based? Is there not a university somewhere nearby that you could perhaps do work experience with? I know the lab I work at (Rutherford Appleton Lab) does work experience, check it out here:
      http://www.stfc.ac.uk/Public+and+Schools/2593.aspx
      Although applications for this year have now closed 🙁

      One of the main points of work experience can be to find out whether or not you think you’d like working in a particular field, but in particle and nuclear physics sometimes it can take a few years of university before you feel like you can really get your teeth into the research properly! So in this case I’d say that doing work experience in engineering might help you to narrow down what type of job you’d like after university – whether you’d prefer one in academia, in industry or something else.

      I hope that helps, feel free to ask another question or I’m @suziesheehy on twitter. 🙂

    • Photo: Adam Tuff

      Adam Tuff answered on 24 Mar 2011:

      There are quite a few universities that do nuclear and particle physics – The University of York, The University of Surrey, The University of Manchester, The University of Birmingham, The University of Edinburgh, The University of Durham, The University of Leeds, The University of Sheffield, the University of Sussex, the University of Liverpool, Oxford, Cambridge – some of the London Universities – if any of those are close by, I’m sure they’d be happy to take you on. There are a lot of industries around Harwell (near Didcot and Oxford). It might also be worth looking at detector companies who make parts for particle detectors. If you want to give me your county or your town name I can have a look for you more specific!

    • Photo: Sheila Kanani

      Sheila Kanani answered on 24 Mar 2011:

      Come to my lab! I did work experience here when I was your age and now I’m here doing a PhD!

Comments

  • Photo: rohitmkiller

    rohitmkiller commented on :

    Thank you very much.
    Adam, I’m in Northamptonshire – I’ll look around and see if I can still apply for work experience this year at any of the Universities that you stated, so thanks.
    Thanks Suzie, I might consider then going for a placement in engineering for work experience then.
    And Sheila, I’d love to take up that offer if it’s realistic and possible 🙂